Jumaat, 15 Ogos 2008

Zahid: Khalid has no right to comment

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim should take responsibility for his controversial remark questioning Malay rights by proposing that 10% of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) intake be open to non-Malay and foreign students.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religion Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidisaid: “Khalid seems to blame the media by saying that he was reported out of context.

“As a politician, he should realise that he is responsible for what he says,” Ahmad Zahid told reporters after launching the Malay Students Merdeka Assembly organised by the Peninsula Malay Students Federation (GPMS) here yesterday.

He was asked to comment on Khalid’s refusal to apologise for his statement, which had led to protests from Malay students.

To Khalid’s suggestion to meet UiTM students to explain his remark, Ahmad Zahid said: “I don’t think that just because UiTM is in Selangor, he has the right to make such a proposal.

“Those who question the position of UiTM will have to walk over the GPMS’ dead body first. If the question now is whether the Malay institution is being pressured, the answer is no, but if the question is whether there is a narrow political agenda, the answer is yes.”

He also urged Malay and Islamic-based NGOs and institutions to unite in defending the dignity and status of the Malays.

The Government should not hesitate to enforce the Sedition Act on the Malaysian Bar Council if it organises an open forum on the rights of the Malays and Islam for the third time, Ahmad Zahid said.

He said the Bar Council had organised two open forums on the social contract and special privileges of the Malays and conversion to Islam.

“If they do it once more, we should not be dayus (weak) to enforce the Sedition Act.”